ALASKA – Construction work is slated to begin, in a few months, on a new Forest Service cabin in Petersburg, Alaska. It replaces an older, harder to reach cabin, and is planned for a coveted spot off the original trail.

The new Raven's Roost cabin is a one-story building with a loft, covered deck and an outhouse.  It is handicap-accessible, accommodates six to eight people and will include furniture built and donated by local high school students. Additional amenities include a propane heater and deck components for hammock use.

The original cabin, built in the late 1970s, sits atop a mountain on Mitkof Island and can only be accessed by helicopter or a four-mile trail from behind the Petersburg airport. The custom-built, three-story cabin has seen better days. Petersburg District Ranger Ted Sandhofer says the newer version will be a welcomed asset.

"Getting to the new cabin will be easier since it is a shorter hike, about two and a half miles or so, from the trailhead," said Sandhofer. "Plus, we won't have to worry so much about the need for search and rescue operations – something that we often had to conduct when hikers, trying to reach the older, distant facility, would end up being stranded because they were unprepared for the long, steep, sometimes slippery and muddy trail."

The new cabin construction follows nearly three years of renovation to the popular Raven’s Trail, that will now end at the new structure's location. The work, which is expected to be completed this spring too, has significantly improved the trail tread with gravel placement, a new boardwalk, concrete steps, and the installation of metal stairs. Already, observed use of the newly constructed trail is up and likely to increase with the new cabin destination.

A local contractor has been awarded the project, which aligns with the Forest Service's efforts to support and stimulate the economic health of its surrounding communities.  

Rainforest Contracting will get the lumber for the cabin from a local mill in Hoonah, Alaska. Once it arrives in Petersburg, it will be flown to the site where it will be reconstructed. The contractor is familiar with cabins in the area, as it also maintains several on the Wrangell Ranger District.

The path that leads to the former cabin will be decommissioned as well. "Most of the improved trail is open and the public is loving it," said Petersburg Cabin/Trails Program Manager Paul Olson. "Local use has easily doubled, with hikers, bikers, walkers and others enjoying the updates."

The trail work, funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the Petersburg Resource Advisory Council, using Secure Rural Schools Program grants, totals about $800,000, while the cabin replacement is funded by the Forest Service's Capital Improvement Program at $568,000.

"We are excited to see this project come to fruition this year – with both the improved trail and new cabin finally being completed," continued Olson. "It was a collaborative effort, that included some great partners and some talented staff from our recreation, engineering and landscape programs."

The Petersburg Ranger district boasts a total of 18 cabins, with the Raven's Roost structure being the sole cabin in town. "This effort is a long-time coming," added Sandhofer. "It speaks to the persistence of our staff and the focus of wanting to provide the best recreational opportunities for the public."

While plans for the new cabin date back some seven years, the concept fits nicely into the Alaska Region's new Tongass Sustainable Cabin Strategy. The effort focuses on removing older, underutilized cabins and replacing them with more affordable cabins that are easier to maintain and likely to be used more often. It is also a strategy that capitalizes on partnerships to make it a reality.